by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
It isn’t easy being Green.
Philip Green has lived a double-life for the last nine years. By day, he acts as an account manager for TV-17, selling and producing television commercials. But by night, weekends and the occasional afternoon, Green pulls on green tights and becomes Michigan J. Frog, a Warner Bros. cartoon icon and local entertainer.
“It’s not a secret,” said Green. Apparently, his frog identity has been revealed to inquiring parties before – just not while he’s in costume. When Green turns into the frog, he has to follow a few codes of behavior.
“The frog doesn’t speak. The frog doesn’t sing,” he said. “The frog does dance.”
Costume comedy is all about slapstick, physical humor, according to Green. He said he’s been working in the television business for 24 years and acting since he was 6 years old. Green said he volunteered for the role of Michigan because the first person who wore the suit was less than enthusiastic.
“He looked like a stick figure,” said Green. “Every time you put something like that on, people expect to be entertained. I’ve got to know which bald guy is going to let me go up to him and pat him on the head, which lady is going to let me jump on her lap.”
Green said some tasks are difficult because the suit places physical limitations on him. When he plays Michigan, Green can’t look up, down or to the side. He can’t even get the costume on without the help of a “frog wrangler,” who also helps guide him through crowds.
“It’s hot. It’s bulky. It’s heavy,” said Green. “If a little kid comes up, for example – unless they approach me, I can’t see them. Plenty of times I’ve tripped on little children because they just rush to me.”
On hot days, Green said the suit can become unbearable – even with the fan on inside. He said he stays in character as long as possible, and parades can be especially taxing because he has to walk the entire length of them.
Other perils lie in store for the frog, as well. Besides swarming kids, Green said some adults think it’s funny to rough him up a bit.
“I got kicked down and attacked by some Jax Beach hoodlums once,” he said. People don’t realize they’re causing him harm, Green said, but the low visibility and bulkiness of the suit mean he can’t get back up easily after he’s been knocked down. “I try to stay on my feet,” he said.
In spite of Michigan’s hardships, Green said he loves playing the frog.
“It’s a tremendous feeling of making people feel good, seeing people smile,” he said.
Alas, Michigan is retiring. Green’s alter-ego has already been phased out of the promotions for most of the network affiliates around the country, according to Jeff Halfon, TV-17’s director of marketing. WB recently merged with United Paramount Network to form the CW (“C” for CBS and “W” for Warner) network. Halfon said the new network doesn’t want to be represented by a cartoon character.
“They didn’t want to get stuck as a kid’s corporation,” said Halfon. “I think we’re the only ones still using the frog.”
Halfon said TV-17 launched a “Farewell to the Frog” campaign to help the community say goodbye to the icon. A farewell essay contest drew 250 entries, according to Halfon. Green said some of the submissions made him realize the emotional impact Michigan has made on people.
“This lady who was sad said that I stopped at a bus stop and I went over to her and gave her a big hug,” said Green. “And she said prior to that, she was contemplating suicide.”
The frog will stop making community appearances in July, Halfon said. By September, the “Farewell to the Frog” campaign will be over.
In the meantime, summer commercials will showcase local businesses as Michigan tries to find a new job, Halfon said. Michigan will encounter difficulty, Halfon added, as he tries and fails to work in fast-food and other venues. The last stop will be NASA, where Michigan will try to become an astronaut.
But what will be Michigan’s ultimate fate? Is he destined for the unemployment line? Will he find his rightful place in space?
“You’ll have to wait in suspense on that one,” said Halfon.